Howard Magazine

I wrote a piece about the SABS Fellowship in the Summer 2010 issue of Howard Magazine. Check me out on page 22.

http://howardmagazine.idigitaledition.com/issues/6/

Note: The end states that I am a Maryland based writer which, of course, is not true.

Wavin' Flag ... for Coca-Colanization?

K'naan's 2009 album Troubadour and its breakout international hit, "Wavin' Flag" solidified the the artist as a viable, and profitable, mainstream artist. Coca-Cola even took notice of the opus and chose a commissioned a remixed version to use as part of their global integrated marketing campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

"Wavin' Flag" has earned the Somalian-born and Canadian-bred, K'naan Warsame, considerable recognition. It has garnered two Juno awards (the Canadian Grammys), a big corporate paycheck, an accompanying world tour, and international attention. Just what every musician wants right?

But what about his message?

K'naan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia during a civil war. He witnessed the treachery or war first-hand, even losing a close cousin to the carnage. When listening to his music one can easily hear his messages of struggle, war, poverty, hardship, and triumph. To me, his lyrics often chronicle the hidden, ugly truths of the human condition; especially those of the marginalized.

Although K'naan doesn't claim to an activist, many would say his art speaks for itself. Some have classified his work as protest poetry or rebel music and some have even likened him to Bob Marley.

To add to that, K'naan chose to speak out about the issue of Somalian piracy. Although he did not necessarily defend the piracy he criticized the West for causing the conditions that spurred the piracy and not including that in their coverage.

"The major issue that the west is missing context for what is going on, and it’s very easy to have CNN talk about these lunatic pirates, the menace to society […] hostage taking is illegal and inhumane, we get all of that,” K'naan said to RFI. "Give the Somali people some credit, listen to the complaints they have about, not just the loss of their fishing industry, but also the dumping of nuclear toxic waste, that we believe is taking place"

Given the background info on who K'naan is as an artist I am forced to wonder about his decision to participate in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign. The same company that serves as a worldwide symbol of the West, westernization and Cocacolanization. The same company that was sued for racial discrimination (The Washington Post). The same company that did business with Hitler and the Nazis during WWII and used forced laborers in Nazi occupied territories (New Statesman, Snopes). The same company that has been accused of contributing to water shortages and declining water quality in India (Wall Street Journal).

I'm not condemning K'naan or calling him a sell-out, I'm simply stating that it seems that partnering with Coca-Cola is contrary to the messages of his music.

What are your thoughts?

Seven Thousand Pt. 2 (Your Reactions)

I would really like to hear from you all. I would like to see your reactions. Please comment below or email me at JoshThomas2@gmail.com and I can add your comment myself. Thanks

The remark below is from my mother who witnessed this situation first hand when my family visited me here recently.

"I believe that every child that comes into the world should have enough food to eat, a safe place to sleep, an opportunity to grow and thrive, but most of all someone to protect and love them. I am saddened whenever I see the evidence of how short we are in meeting these basic responsibilities for any child ... My heart aches for all children who are left behind. " - Bari E. Thomas

PLEASE add your own comments below or email me at JoshThomas2@gmail.com

Seven Thousand

Roughly seven thousand young boys roam the streets of Dakar, Senegal and many other West African cities as talibés. Many families who can’t afford to educate their sons properly in Islam entrust their young boys to holy men known as maribouts. The children, beginning at age five or six, go to live with their new leaders where they are to learn the Qu’ran in exchange for labor. However, many of these maribout take advantage of the boys, forcing them to do hard labor, forcing them to beg for money daily, doling out harsh beatings to those who don’t bring in enough money and neglecting their Islamic studies.

Seven Thousand: A Sonnet for Talibés

Parents wish a better life for their sons

Knowledge of the Qu’ran is the mission

To the maribout go the little ones

To begging, beating, and malnutrition

Education is a lie, truth’s blood-stained

Suffering is the life of the betrayed

Human trafficking, the name of the chains

This is not the life for which parents prayed

Seven thousand boys in Dakar alone

Blasphemous perversion leaves these victims

Seven thousand victims so far from home

Their voices cry out, but will you listen?

Seven thousand souls have been lead astray

For freedom I pray, little talibés

Familiar Fellowship Pt. 1

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper. It won't work. God will do what He said he's gonna do. He will stand by his word. He will come through."

The words from Fred Hammond's "No Weapon" eminated from my iPod as I walked through my neighborhood, dust swirling at my feet. A slight breeze and the shade of the buildings gave me refuge from the rising West African sun as I journeyed.

On this particular Sunday morning I, along with another SABS Fellow, was headed to the International Baptist Church of Dakar for the first time. In Senegal most of the population is of the Islamic faith and the few Christian services are presented in the nation's official language of French. Needless to say, when I heard about a baptist church (5 points!) with an English service (10 points!) calling me excited would have been an understatement.

As I continued on my path I sudden revelation - I was completely at peace. There wasn't a single
worry in my mind, not a care in my world. All of the frustrations, issues and anxieties had been nullified. An overwhelming sense of joy, that I know only He can provide, overtook me and I was, for the first time in a long time, completely at peace.

Mach'Allah! (may God maintain it!)

"Who Say I Don't Rep, I am Naija All Day"

Naija (adj) slang: of or from Nigeria, a person from Nigeria.

For a while now I have felt an inexplicable connection to Nigeria. I've been drawn to Nigeria by means of food, music, general culture, and, especially people. Some of my best friends are of Nigerian heritage (check out Fabulous Brown Girl and The Manifesto) and one of my best friends in Senegal, Gerald, is from Nigeria.

A few weeks ago Gerald made me an honorary Nigerian for all the reasons stated above but more recently an event took place that caused him to erase the honorary qualifier.

We were having lunch at a Nigerian restaurant here in Dakar, as we often do because I love Naija food, when another patron entered. He greeted everyone then asked me a question in Nigerian Pidgin. When I understood his query and responded Gerald and another friend, Harrison, were both shocked. Although I answered in English and not in Pidgin, they were surprised that I was able to comprehend and participate in the conversation.

In response to this Gerald said that I must have Nigerian ancestry. He stated that Nigeria lives in me, although I don't have a direct bloodline that can be traced. That really meant a lot.

Don't take this wrong. I'm not claiming to be Nigerian but, as an African American with a lost history and heritage, I hold that validation in high esteem and am truly appreciative of it.

"Who say I don't rep, I am Naija all day" - Wale

Black Butterfly

I decided I wanted to post a song for Valentine's Day then I realized that I hadn't yet acknowledged Black History Month. It must have slipped my mind due to being here among the majority and in a culture that, generally, doesn't recognize the month-long celebration. (Although some do take part.)

So I figured I'd chose a song that could both relay an uplifting message in line with Black History Month as well as relay a message of love, albeit not one of romance. Anyway, I think "Black Butterfly" by Deniece Williams gets the job done.

Enjoy!

Shouts to all those associated with Les Meres et Debutantes Club of Greater Lansing's 2004 Cotillion!

"Qui Est Jim Crow?"

In honor of Black History Month the West African Cultural Center is hosting films every Friday throughout the month. This past Friday the screened The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow and hosted a discussion afterward.The documentary served as a reminder of the tragic past and the tragedies that still exist today. However, the terrorizing images and touching interviews of the movie were not the most memorable. For me, the reactions of the other viewers stood out the most.

Thanks to my parents, my church family, and my extended family in the Greater Lansing black community I had already been exposed to these ugly truths. This was nothing new, just a reminder. But it was an entirely different experience for those in the audience who were just having their eyes opened.

"Walter White était blanc ou noir?" ("Was Walter White white or black?")

The first comment introduced a cultural difference that I had never realized. Walter White, a leader of the NAACP and civil rights activist, is rather fair-skinned by anyone's standards. So much so that he was able to pass in order to investigate lynchings for the NAACP. In the minds of many of the viewers he was far more white than black which caused them confusion. However, in the Jim Crow South the One Drop Rule reigned supreme deeming White just as colored as his darker colleagues.

"Qui est Jim Crow?" ("Who is Jim Crow?")

This was the last question of the night and one that many African Americans cannot answer, however, this was the first I had ever heard anyone make the inquiry. Many just accept the term Jim Crow without knowing that it got its origins as a popular minstrel song and dance which then evolved into a derogatory term for anything related to African Americans before being ascribed to the system of legal segregation. In this moment I noticed that it was a question that I should have heard many times before but hadn't. Some of the other fellows, Howard educated African Americans, who were there with me were also unaware of Jim Crow's origins. I was intrigued by how someone from a similar yet different culture could pose such a poignant question that often goes unasked.

That being said, the highlight of my night was yet to come.

"J'ai compris!" ("I understood!")

Upon reflection I came to the revelation that I understood the majority of the discussion that had taken place – in French! As many of you know, when I arrived in Senegal in August I did not know any French other than a few words and phrases that had entered the American lexicon. Now, here I was actively listening and comprehending most of the dialogue regardless of the fact that session was being held in French. I still can only formulate the simplest of sentences and mostly speak in phrases but the ability to understand what others say is a big milestone for me. J'ai compris!

Haiku #6 (Winter)

Eighties in the day

Cool temps rule from dusk til dawn

No snow-pocalypse

photo courtesy William J. Roberts (http://tweetphoto.com/10989311)

Haiku #5 (Weight Loss)

Pounds lost by the day

Blame the Sun and the diet

Now my pants don't fit

Super Bowl Bomb

I wish this Super Bowl Bomb was referring to a 70-yard Manning touchdown connection, sadly, it's not. Let me set the scene.

French television has not afforded me too many opportunities to watch football, American football, this season. Once, I was leaving a poetry slam and saw Sports Center on at the bar ... in English ... with NFL highlights on! Needless to say I was glued to the screen until the last football clip finished.

Thankfully, I've been able to catch part of a college bowl game and the whole AFC championship at my friend Devante's apartment. After the conference championship I was psyched about the Super Bowl. Colts vs. Saints and I, now, had a venue to watch the action. We had plans on inviting friends over to his place, throwing some chicken on the grill and really making an event out of the whole thing. Needless to say, I had been looking forward to America's biggest sporting event all week.

Then the bomb hit.

Yesterday, I got a phone call from Devante with bad news. His job called him to go out of the country at the last minute. "Yeah, the driver is coming to get me at one."

I was devastated. There I was, eagerly looking forward to the biggest game in football and all of the sudden the whole thing came crashing down.

Maybe it's not too late to find an alternative venue. We'll see ...

Haiku #4 (Halfway)

The five month stasis

The midpoint of my journey

Yet five months remain

"Got 'Til It's Gone"

"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

Being here in Dakar, Senegal has truly opened my eyes to the blessings that I took for granted back at home in the United States. I've adapted to living in a developing nation but this experience has given me a new appreciation for many of the things that I used to take for granted.

1.) Connectivity:

Thankfully, my house here is equipped with wireless internet yet it still doesn't compare to the ease of communication I had before. The first few weeks I was here I nearly felt naked without my phone. The access to the web, social media, news and people that was once in the palms of my hands was now only available inside my home while posted in front of a stationary screen. Of course, that was all dependent on the fickle electricity, which brings me to my second point.

2.) Electricity:

Temperatures reaching beyond 100 degrees, insane humidity, and your only relief is from a temperamental oscillating fan – when the power is on that is. That statement sums up my first month in Dakar. I arrived in the rainy season which meant boiling temps, humidity like I had never experienced and torrential downpours that knocked the power grid offline multiple times a day.

It came to a point where I would make "to do" lists of tasks to accomplish when the power came back on. Every blog post, AIM conversation, or Skype session began with a prayer that the electricity would hold out until its conclusion.

Electricity, although important, is not essential and its scarcity doesn't carry the same weight as the global water crisis.

3.) Water:

Fortunately, having clean drinking water has not been an issue for me, however, it certainly is for millions, if not billions, around the world. Recently, a team of artists, activists, and experts climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the issue. The Summit on The Summit, headed by singer/songwriter/producer Kenna, sought not only to raise funds but to raise awareness. Names like Lupe Fiasco, Jessica Biel, Santigold, and Elizabeth Gore participated in the climb.

In my case the necessities of water were taken care of but the luxuries – not so much. By luxury I'm referring to hot water. Bathing in cold water day in and day out has really given me a new appreciation for even luke warm showers. Dare I admit to having dreams of warm cascading waters.

4.) Independence:

Getting plopped down in a new city, in a new country, in a new continent, where most everyone speaks a different language made me more dependent on others than I have been in years. It was a huge adjustment to have to rely on others for food, transportation, and even to communicate with people. All of a sudden I had to depend on other people for most of the things I needed and wanted for everyday life.

I think the biggest change was transportation. Going from having a car and access to Washington, D.C.'s Metro (which I will argue is the best mass transit system in the U.S.) to Dakar where my options are overcrowded and unreliable buses, expensive taxis, and the good ol' left-right-left.

However, what I miss the most are the people.

5.) People:

Sure the internet can connect me to friends and family by means of AIM, Gchat Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and email but it just doesn't compare to the ease of staying in contact with people that I had at home. Basically, my connection to people at home is largely dependent on me sitting in front of the computer whereas before I could fully experience life without sacrificing my connection to my network.

More importantly is the lack of face-to-face interaction. I have found a few friends here who have been really great but they don't compare to the bonds that have been years in the making – some that have been cultivated my entire life.

Please don't take this as a list of complaints rather it's a reminder of the blessings for which I should be grateful. When I return to the States I hope to be able to look back at this in order to greater appreciate these things, to put my life in perspective.

"Joni Mitchell never lies, lies, lies ..."

This post was inspired by Charlotte Young's post "ThInGs I No LoNgEr TaKe FOr GrAntEd."

How Can We Help Haiti?

Last week Port-au-Prince was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake that both literally and figuratively ripped apart they ground they stoop upon. Early estimates place the death toll in the hundreds of thousands while bodies are still being recovered. Haiti, the most fiscally impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, is now left with thousands of citizens without homes, a demolished infrastructure, and a need for outside assistance. However, therein lies another problem – what is the best way to aid Haiti in their time of crisis?

The president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, has taken a step to assist those affected by the earthquake.

"The president is offering voluntary repatriation to any Haitian that wants to return to their origin ... Senegal is ready to offer them parcels of land - even an entire region. It all depends on how many Haitians come," said Wade's spokesman, Mr Bemba Ndiaye, to BBC News."If it's just a few individuals, then we will likely offer them housing or small pieces of land. If they come en masse we are ready to give them a region."

This offer is great – in theory. In reality – not so much. Senegal is a developing nation that struggles to provide for its population of nearly 14 million. That along with the general public's distaste for Wade has caused quite the stir here. Many believe that Wade cannot follow through on his promise while others fear that he will do so but at the expense of Senegal. The general consensus that I've received is that people here are willing to aid, willing to sacrifice even but bringing evacuees to Senegal will result in a lose-lose situation for all parties.

It's my belief that this was simply a political gesture. This was his way to play the role of a caring humanitarian on the world's stage while neglecting that same role domestically.

Perhaps other nations (nations with more land, resources, and finances) will take this as a charge and offer similar aid to the people of Haiti. The simple fact that he made this declaration before others could do so should be seen as an embarrassment to the conscience of the developed world.

What do you think? What's the best way to help Haiti?

Stand Tall Togo

Just a few days ago a bus carrying the national team from Togo was met with gunfire from a separatist movement in the host nation Angola. The attack resulted in the deaths of three associates of the club and many injuries including some of the players.

The team wished to stay and compete in honor of the fallen but, against their wishes, top authorities called them home. Team captain Emmanuel Adebayor had this to say to RMC (French radio), "We had a meeting between players yesterday (Saturday) and we told ourselves we were football players and decided to do something nice for our country by playing to pay tribute to those who died ... Unfortunately, the head of state and the country's authorities have made a different decision, so we will pack and go home."

Unfortunately, this incident may put the international view of soccer in Africa in jeopardy in a time that was representative of positive progression. Currently, Africa is getting long-past due recognition in the realm of soccer. The continent hosted the under 20 World Cup in Egypt this past September (which Ghana won, making them the first African team to capture the championship), the under 17 World Cup in October and the 2010 World Cup this summer will be held in South Africa marking the first time that the international competition will be hosted in Africa.

One can't help but to think that this could have negative effects on the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. An act of terror in Angola says little if anything about security in South Africa but the world has a tendency to lump all of Africa together as if it was one singular nation, one singular culture, one singular entity. Africa is a vast continent made up of 53 nations spread out over nearly 12 million square miles yet people are so quick to connect the entire land. I fear this isolated incident, which occurred hundreds of miles away from the World Cup sites, could dampen the upcoming historical event.

Do you think this will affect the 2010 World Cup? If so, will those actions be justified? Please comment below with your responses – I'm interested to hear what you all have to say.

Flashing Lights (Welcome 2010!)

There was no elaborate countdown. No ball dropped. In fact I only realized that the new year had begun when I noticed that I was alone in the room. I followed the voices in the distance to the balcony where everyone had gathered and immediately I saw what had drawn them all there.

Brilliant and vibrant lights exploded all over the city of Dakar. Colorful bursts lit up the night sky in all directions. It appeared as if a competition of sorts was taking place. Fireworks from the east would be met with a showing from the west and then outdone by an amazing display from the north. The stunning light show blazed into the sky all around me, a sure positive omen of the year to come.